Today in Chickamauga History - June 29

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1827, June 29:  ARKANSAS TERRITORIAL PAPERS VOL XX – Page 496 – 497 - GOVERNOR IZARD TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR - [N A:OIA, Lets. Recd. (Ark.): ALS 4DJ
Arkansa Territy LITTLE ROCK; June 29. 1827.
THE HONble THE SECRETARY AT WAR.

SIR, It was not until the 27 th Instant that I had an Opportunity of seeing Sarrazin, the Quapaw Chjef, to whom I delivered your Letter of the 26 th March last. 60 I had two Conferences with him, the Result of which was that he declines for himself and his Band, consisting of one hundred & twenty Men, Women & Children, the Proposal of joining the Cherokees on the Arkansa.

Having learnt that the Osages were desirous of receiving them into their Nation, on the Ground that they were a kindred Tribe I sounded  Sarrazin on that Head. He assured me that although a fe~ words of their respective Languages had the same Meaning, yet this did not extend to such a Similarity as to render them intelligible to each other; that their Fathers (and he, who is an aged man himself had conversed with many of them in the course of his Life) disavowed any such Connection, and on the contrary had always regarded the Osages as Enemies. He said that he & his Followers were desirous of assimilating themselves to the whites; that several of their Children now went to a White School near their Village; that they wished their women to be taught spinning & weaving, and their young men to learn Husbandry & forsake their wild Habits; they wanted to buy some small Tracts of Land for Cultivation; they were indeed very poor, but they were able to provide for their wants on the spot where they were now located; that he himself was half a white man by Birth and entirely white in Affections & Inclination.-

It is certain that the Presence of these People on the Arkansa is not disagreeable to the white Settlers in their neighbourhood, many of whom are of French Descent and are of mixed Breed themselves. I am not aware of any law by which, after relinquishing their Indian Title to the Soil, they can be prevented from establishing themselves on it as American Citizens. They have planted Crops of Corn which will be sufficient for their Subsistence this Year, and probably they
will require little or no Aid from Government for the future. I informed Sarrazin that I would Communicate what he had said to their Great Father, whose Decision should be made known to them as soon as_ I should be made acquainted with it; and in the mean Time they might remam on their present Habitations. The poor Creatures suffered greatly in the Cadeau Country. Many died of actual Starvation; of these several were of Sarrazin's own Family.61-

I have the Honour to be, Sir, respectfully your most obedt Serv'
GEO. IZARD.

[Endorsed] Little Rock June 29. 1827 George Izard communicates the determination of Sarrazan & his party not to emigrate to the Osages. and are desirous of remaining among the whites & to be taught by them-&c

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